Tabletop and non-MMO stuff, oh noes.

First off, the Interface Zero kickstarter. If the name means nothing to you, this KS might not be for you. Me, I knew immediately and I am throwing some money at them because tabletop frenzy. And because cyberpunk. And because I like Kickstarter. Click the pic for the KS project page.

I had this discussion with several different groups over the last few weeks, namely how I love Kickstarter and how they either don’t like it or don’t trust it. I get that, and I’ve heard some of the horror stories. I’ll just say that for myself, I don’t view it as ‘I’m buying a stake in an enterprise/company, so I should get to share in the profits’ (as some people I was talking with have said). I view it as providing undemanding patronage to someone whose work I feel deserves support. And I use the word patronage advisedly. (Yes, I support several Patron endeavours too.)

Every successful Kickstarter I’ve ever supported (all dozen or so of them) has provided me with a product, or will shortly provide me with a product, or might someday provide me with a product but I don’t really mind whether it ever does or not.

Wait, what? Ysharros has so much money she can afford to just throw it away on projects that might never come to fruition?

Not quite. I’m not rolling in cash by any means, but neither am I living at the poverty line. I have enough that I can donate some to charity… and can use some to support projects where a) I believe in the author/entity, b) I believe in the product, c) I believe the endeavour deserves support in the form of some cash, whether or not it ever comes to fruition, or d) all of the above.

I’m careful about what I back and I don’t see Kickstarter as my cheap-games and game-related-products grocery store. That’s why I don’t get mad if there are delays — shit happens. The reason people (ok, ethical and honest people) do Kickstarters is because they have a cool idea and can’t quite afford to fund it themselves. The reason I support those Kickstarters is because I agree that their project is a cool idea and I am happy to lend a hand to support the net volume of ART and CREATIVE ENDEAVOUR available in the universe.

So yes, I Kickstarter for philosophical, not economic reasons. And I’m perfectly happy with that. YMMV.

Next up, a completely not game-related personal planner. I pledged last year and I’ll be pledging to this new effort too because I approve. Do I follow everything Ms. Trinidad tells me to do? No, but I’d probably be better-organised and a lot less anxious if I did. Will I try to do better? For sure. And I get to help someone else get one as I get one? Awesome! Quote:

Why another Kickstarter?

I started this company wanting to give the world a tool that I wish existed when I was feeling lost. 

From day one, we have offered the PDF for anyone to use for free; we launched our Pay-it-Forward program, a program that allows people pay a planner forward to a stranger in need at half the cost; and we’ve given thousands of Passion Planners to 84 non-profits all around the country.

But we want to do more.

Now, on our two year anniversary, Passion Planner is taking one of our biggest steps forward. Today, through Kickstarter, we are becoming a Get-1-Give-1 Company.

Every time you purchase a Passion Planner we are going to give one to someone in need. When you invest in yourself, you will also be investing in the dreams of someone else.

Even for someone as resistant to organisation as I am these little planners are awesome, so I thought I’d put this out there for fellow stationery addicts or organised wannabes. Apparently we are legion.